Written by well known ecologist, Eugene Odum, this book presents basic ecological principles in a series of vignettes, covering such subjects as population growth, consumption of our natural resources, and resource management. Drawing upon essays written during a forty-year career as an instructor, researcher, and ecologist, Odum introduces new terminology in an unassuming and non-condescending manner. This book is invaluable not only for the student and scientist, but also for the general interest reader.Selected Vignettes: To Grow or Not to Grow Is Not the Question; The Question Is When Do We Stop Growing Bigger and Start Getting Better Quality in Control of Quantity, the Great Lesson in Evolution Energy, the Common Denominator That Cannot Be Reused The Rising Tide of Maintenance Costs; the Ultimate Limitation The Forest is More Than a Collection of Trees (or the Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Parts) There are Checks and Balances but no Equilibriums in Nature When Things Get Tough I